Supporting Autistic Youth and Adults Since 2010

SEEDs for Autism is a nonprofit organization, located in Phoenix, Arizona. SEEDs For Autism offers innovative training. It’s in our name! SEEDs stands for Success through Education Exploration and Development. SEEDs is a program that provides social skills, life skills, and vocational skills to youth and adults impacted with autism. We work with individuals who are still in high school and are transitioning out, as well as those who have already graduated recently, or many years past. We support individuals across the spectrum with various communication abilities.

The mission is to empower, impact, and build the foundation that will lead to self-esteem, drive, and purpose. Participants learn from professional business owners, guild members, tradesmen, and coaches who teach curriculum, and how to use real tools of the trades to create functional products. Every member rotates through the program, learning from each instructor and department. They learn valuable and diverse skills that help them not only gain vocational capabilities, they also learn about friendships, life skills, and ways to manage anxiety. It is such a hands on model that each individual flourishes from the training they receive.

It is our hope to expand and bring in new skills that create jobs and revenue within our program, which will ultimately lead to paying positions to hire our members. With all the artists and various business training that we teach here including: woodworking, ceramics, blacksmithing/welding, jewelry making, sewing, weaving, product photography, distribution, social media/marketing, blog posts and writing a newsletter, customer service, custodial, and retail at our Garden of Treasures - a unique gift and thrift boutique- and more, there is never a dull moment, and always diversity from which to learn from.

The organization is all about staying true to the mission: We are providing a safe and skill building environment for those with autism, while also being entrepreneurial. Each staff member is an intricate component to developing a viable business model that is also educational, so we are always those two things- educational and a business with products to market and sell. We are always seeking curriculum and strategies that teaches and reaches each person in the individual ways specific to them that can enhance their lives and improve their particular challenges. At SEEDS, we are always modifying in real time to redirect, help manage and minimize frustrations, build confidence, and reach deep into their sometimes mystifying minds of how to be supportive. We specialize in seeing the potential of each individual, nudging them to beat their very real fears, connecting to them when they have shut others out, and supporting them to believe in themselves.

We are most proud that we have made a difference in every single individual who has been with us to keep trying, and that parents believe in what we are doing. Our successes couldn’t happen without the staff and volunteers who care, give of themselves their knowledge and time, and want to be here. We are so unique because we think outside the box, are always trying new things, tweaking to find better results, and are building something that works. We work with our community to bring them into the program, while bringing our students out to explore and grow. We welcome you to come in for a tour!